Mt Shasta Avalanche Center - Shasta/Trinity Nat'l Forest

Shovel tilt test lead to easy failures within new snow. No propagation. Snow pit dug down to knife hardness rain crust layer. Deep tap tests led to no failures at crust layer.

Total height of snow - 410cm (13.5 feet)

Snowing very hard. Tracks blown in quickly. 25 to 40cm of new snow by 1500. East/South/West winds, gusty and variable. No recent avalanches but visibility was less than 1/4 mile and at times only a few hundred feet. Wind slabs primary concern, with drifts 60-80cm deep. Storm slab characteristics decent. Cornice formation continuing. Total HS: unknown, at least >300cm. Probe could not hit ground. Height of new snow at this time and location: 25 cm.

Total Height of snow: 280cm / Weak layer at snow density change (96cm). Unable to produce propagation in large column tests. No red flags for avalanche danger observed along tour today. Right side up snowpack. Widespread 2-5 cm crust, large rain runnels and effects of rain on snow up to 6,000 feet, all aspects on the west side today. Above 6k, soft, dry and light powder. South facing aspects, even with 25 degree F air temp, began to experience roller ball action. Full sun all day. Riming on all trees and surface of snowpack.

First above treeline observation/pit since atmospheric river event/January storm cycle. Overall snow surface very smooth with isolated sastrugi wind erosional features. Fairly uniform surface hardness, soft mostly with hard slabs and packed powder throughout terrain. Skiers and snowmobilers riding similar slopes. Windy, NE, blowing snow onto westerly slopes. Chilly today but sunny! Unknown total height of snow, couldn't hit ground! A lot of wind loading but no recent avalanches. Observations and tests looking at wind slab stability. Danger perceived as moderate.